Geoege brownlees



(No Model.)

G. BROWNLEES, Jr.

THILL COUPLING.

No. 387,762; Patented Aug. 14, 1888.

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' ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Pnwmm n w, Wnhinglom 04c UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE:

GEORGE BROVVNLEES, JR, OF PENOLA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

THlLL-GOUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,762, dated August 14, 1888.

Application filed January 3, 1888. Serial No. 259,725. (No model.) Patented in South Australia August 25. 1887. No. 862; in Victoria September 1'2, 188?, No. 5,296; in New South Wales September 13, 1887, No. 182 3 in England November 15, 1587, X0. 15,645 in Queensland March .37, 1888, and in New Zcaland March .29, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE BRowNLnns, the younger, asubject ofthe Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at Penola, in the Province of South Australia, blacksmith, have invented an Improved Contrivance for Coupling the Shafts or Poles to Vehicles, (the same having been patented in the following countries: South Australia August 25, 1887, No. 862; Victoria September 12, 1887, No. 5,296; Xew South \Vales September 13, 1887, No. 182; Great Britain November 15, 1887, No. 15,645; Queensland March 27, 1838; New Zealand March 29, 1888,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved method of attaching the shafts or poles to all kinds of vehicles, whereby the bolts, nuts, and other joints at present in use may be dispensed with and the operation of coupling or uncoupling performed with greater facility and speed. I accomplish this by providing a contrivance consisting of a lockingjoint for attachment to the frame of the vehicle and a solid cylindrical T head-piece provided with a flange of special form for attachment to the shafts or pole.

In order that my invention may he the better understood I will proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which'- Figure l is a plan of the coupling complete; Fig. 2, a side-elevation joint with the locking side open; Fig. 3, an end view of the headpiece; Fig. 4, a side view of the same.

Like letters refer to similar parts.

The clip or shackle consists of a tongueshaped plate or bar, A, which is secured to the axle by bolts or clevises or in any suitable manner. From the front end of the plate or bar A extend two perforated jaws or eyes, a, one of which is entire and the other has a segment, a, cut from it, and one end hinged to the main portion at a while the other end is adapted to engage with the main portion at the point a, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The thilliron B has at its lower end a T-head, b, the arms of which form trunnions for engagement with the eyes a. At one end of the T-head b-that is to say, at the end of one of the tron nions-is a circular flange or disk, 2;, attached to or made in one piece with said trunnion, and of a diameter somewhat greater than that of the eye a. From the inner side of this disk b extends an arc-shaped plate, 11", of a width and length about equal to that of the hinged segment a.

The operation is as follows: The hinged segment a being raised to the position shown in Fig. 2, an opening is provided in the eye a equal to the thickness of the thill-iron. The thills being raised to an upright position and moved laterally, the trunnions b are readily engaged with the eyes a, when the hinged segment a is lowered so as to cover the opening. When the thills are lowered to the position for use, the are -shaped plate I) covers the hinged segment, and thus prevents the possibility of uncoupling, which can be done only by reversing the movement above described and again raising the thills and moving them laterally after lifting the hinged segment.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a thill-coupling, the combination of the clip or shackle A, having the jams or eyes a, one of which is provided with a hinged seg ment, a, and the thill-iron B, having the T- head or trunnions b, provided with the disk or flange Z), and arcshaped plate b", substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE BROIVNLEES, JUNIOR.

Vitnesses:

CHRISTOPHER SHARAM, J12, NEIL RAILD BETHUNE. 

